The American Legion Emblem
According to the “2019 Officer’s Guide and Manual of Ceremonies,” the American Legion emblem “is laid upon the rays of the sun, giver of life, warmth and courage; foe of the cold, of the darkness, of fear, of apprehension.” As a Service Officer, staff member, and a disabled veteran who is dedicated to carrying out the mission of the four pillars of the American Legion, I realize there is the foundation, the American Legion emblem, which is the symbol of our heritage. Our image found in the Legion emblem shines like a beacon that radiates our efforts as peacekeepers and goodwill stewards in our community. Page 3 of the Officer’s Guide states, “every part of the American Legion emblem has meaning.”
The best way for me to describe what the American Legion emblem means to me can be summarized through my devotion to serve as a Service Officer. The American Legion emblem is my passion to share information that may be helpful found in our manuals. Without our manuals, we would not be clear about our mission, and without our mission, we are lost as veterans.
The great part about being a Service Officer is sharing VA information found on VA.gov. Sharing information with our members allows me to act as a steward to relay information found in our manuals, ask questions for those who may be unsure of an answer, and to seek procedures approved by our executive committee so all can understand. The American Legion heritage developed by our elders has laid down the road to freedom we enjoy when we attend our fundraisers and conventions. Our efforts to carry the torch found in our emblem as Legionnaires seeks to continue the American Legion mission. Our firing squads honor all those who enter Post Everlasting. As a Service Officer, I dedicate my spare time studying and memorizing our manuals as a means to pledge to act through virtues our elders created that are expected of officers to carry out and execute.
As officers, we seek proper policies when approaching situations where the American Legion emblem and its reputation may be at stake. Knowing why we serve the Legion and where to find the information makes our organization run professionally. Honor, duty, and dedication to serve the American Legion is a privilege, when we seek to run our posts through our collective efforts of solvency, by disciplining ourselves as members, who recognize our first duty is to preserve the image of our American Legion servanthood.
Emblem
“There shines the Emblem of The American Legion, it is your badge of distinction, honor and service. It stands for God and Country, and the highest rights of man. Of its several parts, each has a meaning.”
Elements of the emblem
The rays of the sun
The rays of the sun form the background of our proud emblem and suggests the Legion’s principles will dispel the darkness of violence and evil.
The wreath
The wreath forms the center, in loving memory of those brave comrades who gave their lives in the service of the United States that liberty might endure.
The star
The star, victory symbol of World War I, also symbolizes honor, glory and constancy. The letters “U.S.” leave no doubt as to the brightest star in the Legion’s star.
Outer rings
The larger of two outer rings stands for the rehabilitation of our sick and disabled comrades. The smaller inside ring denotes the welfare of America’s children.
Inner rings
The smaller of two inner rings set upon the star represents service to our communities, states and the nation. The larger outer ring pledges loyalty to Americanism.
American Legion
The words American Legion tie the whole together for truth, remembrance, constancy, honor, service, veterans affairs and rehabilitation, children and youth, loyalty, and Americanism.
About
The American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congress in 1919 as a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness.
Disclaimer: We are a donated service to the Wisconsin American Legion Press Association, who are board member moderators of this blog page. Our mission is to transmit American Legion information to our posts. We are training Legionnaires to write blogs and archives. The information listed was taken from: https://www.legion.org/idaho/emblem